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Tokyo Geidai Wind Orchestra

Performer Bio Synopsis: Tokyo Geidai (University of the Arts) is Japan’s national conservatory and leading producer of professional musicians. The Tokyo Geidai Wind Orchestra (TGWO) has historically attracted premier wind band performers; its origins can be traced back to 1935 as a voluntary student ensemble founded members of the then Tokyo School of Music. Initially coached by military band musicians, by 1949 alumni, professors, and students established a practical studies department in response to the demand for highly skilled musicians. After its debut concert in 1951 at Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya Concert Hall under the baton of Masato Yamamoto, the wind orchestra has performed annually a varied repertoire including orchestrations requiring expanded percussion, harp and contrebass. Throughout the year, the wind orchestra presents a number of student-only summer and fall performances, as well as many concerts nation-wide where professors join the full ensemble. In the Spring of 2015, the wind orchestra released its first CD. A second CD will come in Spring of 2016.

CategoryINTERNATIONAL BANDS

Time and Date12/17/2016 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Website:

Conductor's Name: Masaharu Yamamoto

Conductor's Bio: Masaharu Yamamoto won first prize at The Music Competition of Japan in 1972 while studying at Tokyo University of the Arts. After graduation, and winning the Ataka Prize, he went to Germany to study at“Hochschule für Musik Detmold”. He was principal clarinet of the “Deutsche Oper am Rhein” from 1975 to 1982 and won second prize in the woodwind trio division at the 1976 International Chamber Music Competition in Colmar, France. In 1980, the city of Dusseldorf, Germany awarded him the “Kammermusiker” Award.
After returning to Japan, he was principal clarinet for the New Japan Philharmonic from 1990 to 2007 and professor at the Musashino Academia Musicae.
He is director for the Kiso Music Festival for many years, in particular participating in the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival (Ex-Saito Memorial Orchestra Festival ), and performs as a member of “Master wind players”, “Japan chamber orchestra” and so on.
Presently, he holds the position of professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts and is director of the Performing Arts Center at the university. He is also president of the Japan Clarinet Association. He has conducted Tokyo Geidai Wind Orchestra (TGWO) since his tenure at the university and has been involved in many significant concerts.